Estes hopeful of winging his way in

Bob Estes faces an anxious wait to find out if he can start the Open Championship today, having flown over from the United States on the off-chance that there might be a last-minute withdrawal.

Estes received the call from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club on Monday and arrived in St Andrews the next day hoping to benefit from a change in the qualification system, which is now determined by world rankings. Estes is the next highest-ranked player not in the tournament.

Ranked 85th, Estes said: "I still have no idea whether or not I'm playing in the tournament. It's a case of waiting to see if somebody pulls out overnight."

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It says something about Estes' dedication, and how important he perceives the Open to be, that he is willing to make the journey at such short notice.

Another American who has shown his appreciation for the event is Brad Faxon, who came over for final qualifying and had to try to secure his place as one of three from a field of 96 at Lundin Links.

"It was an easy decision to come over here," Faxon said. "I have such a respect for this Championship and, besides, Lundin offered great links practice for this week."

Several withdrawals have helped to put the revised system of qualification into action at St Andrews. Among the most high-profile players missing this week is England's David Howell, a strong candidate for the Open but now replaced by fellow countryman Brian Davis - who has a world ranking of 77.

It is a significant departure from the method used by the R&A in Opens past, where a withdrawal would prompt the entry - often late - of a lucky loser from one of the regional qualifying schools.

Jose Maria Olazabal has already made headlines here by qualifying through the rankings system at the expense, coincidentally, of his good friend Seve Ballesteros, who had to withdraw with back problems. Bernhard Langer was also out testing the Old Course yesterday after the exit of Japan's Shingo Katayama.

Swede Henrik Stenson is another whose presence is by virtue of his ranking, one place below Davis. From tee to green there have been few better players on the European Tour than Stenson. He replaces Padraig Harrington, who is not playing following the death of his father.